Posted by By: Hemal Ashar on
Arbind Singh, an employee of Great Eastern (GE) Shipping Company Ltd, has been reported ‘missing' from the company vessel, Jag Leela, that was sailing from Houston (US) to Nigeria on a regular trade route.
Arbind Singh, an employee of Great Eastern (GE) Shipping Company Ltd, has been reported ‘missing' from the company vessel, Jag Leela, that was sailing from Houston (US) to Nigeria on a regular trade route.
Singh, a second engineer and a resident of Malad, had joined the company on May 25 this year. He was reported missing on June 14, 2005, two days after he spoke to his family by telephone on June 12, from the vessel.
Says Rajat Dutta, general manager (planning), GE Shipping, 'There was an on-board and overboard search for the missing second engineer on June 14. The search continued the whole day with support from local authorities."
The company has filed a police complaint on June 17, 2005 with the Worli police station, informing them about the incident and will be making travel and visa arrangements to for two family members to visit Nigeria with company personnel.
Says Ashok Jayaswal, brother-in-law of Arbind's wife, Manisha, 'Manisha and another family member will leave for Lagos (Nigeria) tomorrow." When asked if the family suspected foul play, Jayaswal reported, 'No. We were not on the ship, so how can we imply something like that?"
However, early news reports stated that Manisha and her brother, Vishal, suspected foul play.
However, Datta said, 'The company is totally committed towards finding a solution to this problem. The vessel has been in anchorage at Nigeria since Saturday (June 19) to facilitate investigation efforts."